Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1887-05-27
AN ARMY NEWSBOY.
SELLING PAPERS IN WAR TIMES
UNDER DIFFICULTIES.

UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
a 0feen Moontein noy heisees somo
of His Adventures as . Disburser Of
War limo Litersture-In Field, Camp
s p.,..
Especial Correspondence.l
q MILWAUKEE,, May 10.
An army newsboy.
The title seems misnomer.
But it is not, as any old soldier with warm
reductions OF the pleasure brought by q
paper IN camp VIII attest.
The life OF the army newsboy v as nothing
II not excit,ng Oftentimes 1t was necessary
Tor them 70 run the gauntlet OF Confederate
scouting parties In order TO keep their Gus
toners supplied.
Inc most noted OF the class was "Doc"
Aubrey, OF the Iron brigade" and who has
the honor Of being the only newsboy captured
during the war. De was confined in Libby
prison for six weeks and then released At
that time "Doc" was harum scarum young
ster OF To- He now resides in Milwaukee,
and is one Of the leading members Of the Iron
Brigade association. This brigade WIS COM
posed OF the second, sixth and Seventh Wis
consin, Nineteentn Indiana and Battery B,
United States artillery. The Twenty fourth
Michigan was afterward added. The brigade
was commanded by King, Merideth, Cutler,
Gibbou and Bragg, all well known names
"Doc" attached himself to the brigade when
the order was issued allowing only one news
boy to division, for the reason that the
Wisconsin troops were found to be the best
customers, although he was by birth a
Green Mountain boy" and had three
brothers III Vermont regiment.
He was captured soon after the battle OF
Antietam. After the review which inaugu-
rated burnside's succession to the command
OF the Army OF the Potomac, "Doc" thought
he would attempt to reach Washington,
thirty-one miles distant, and get back with a
supply Of papers, none having been received
in camp for some weeks.
The road was known to be beset with Con-
federate scouting parties, and he was prom
ised capture before he started by some of the
camp croakers raging no attention to their
pfopnecies, the piucky newsboy mounted his
morse ana started.
The story OF his after events is best told in
his own words, as given In recent interview
with the writer.
Il arrived In washington" said Aubrey,
the next day, and at once put in an order for
l,Uo CHRONICLES. In the morning, bright and
early, was on with The papers folded length
wise ana piled up 70 my chin before and be-
hlhd on the sadie. Hidden under the piles
were four bottles OF whisky for an officer
friend. This was contraband, but we always
managed 10 get IL through.
"Ihat night reached house inhabited by
an old man about midway between Washing
ton and where had left the army. The next
morning was Off, slipping by the pickets at
Centerville and Manassas by means of my
passes signed by Provost Marshal Gen. Pat
rick. Thus far everything had gone finely,
and was in the best Of spirits, as hoped to
be back among the boys by noon.
las the sun got near the zenith I therefore
began to look sharp for our pickets. was
rewarded about IL o'clock by catching sight
OF two horsemen on the pike wearing Union
overcoats. spurred up my horse and in a
few minutes reached them. Riding up to
one who wore the stripes Of a corporal I
hanued out my pass. As did so he spoke
and said, Where are you going atr
''The singular construction of the sentence
caught my attention at once, and the cold
chils began to run up and down my back.
"rhe corporal, as he glanced at the pass
with Gen. Patricks sign manual, began to
laugh.
II saw was in for it and said, Il guess I'm
in the wrong pew
He replied good naturally, Il guess Won
are, my boy
Determined not to be made prisoner IL il
could be avoided. drew a little nearer and
said, See here, corporal, Pm only a little
newsboy and won't be Of any use to you fell
lows. Now il you will let me go I'll give you
some fine Yankee whisky
"As spoke dived down under the papers
and brought up bottle OF Mountain Dew,
the sight of which made the troopers eyes
sparkle The corporal drew his saber and
with the point extracted the cork l offered
it to him first, but he waved it back, saying.
Drink yourself first
ale thought it was drugged.
"Obey1ng commands, took a swallow and
then both troopers took pulls at the bottle
that brought tears into their eyes After
living the liquor time to work made an
other appeal for release, but it didn't work,
and was taken back to the picket reserve.
"On reaching camp l was quickly sur
rounded and relieved of my papers.
ii saw the corporal ride up to the lieutenant
and surmised he was telling him about the
whisky.
Il was right.
"A minute after the lieutenant walked over
to me and said, You have some whisky.
Give IL to me-